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An Ancient Oriental Cure for the Common Cold

I’ve often been fascinated with the history of Asian or Oriental cures for some of the most common ‘bugs’ which also happens to be some of the most lucrative markets for manufacturers of medication.

American’s alone spend over 4 billion dollars on cold and flu medicine alone. The number is so staggering that if there was a simple, historically proven, effective and even more importantly, an inexpensive way to treat or cure a common cold would it be worth marketing? My answer would have to be – No.

However, for centuries in countries such as China, Korea and Japan the common cold and flu has been effectively and inexpensively treated with natural, healthy and safe methods. One of the proven and effective ways to treat the common cold, sore throat and general feeling of being ‘sick’ is a small fruit grown in Korea known as Citron or Yuja.

What is ‘Citron’ you may ask and why is it so effective against the common cold and flu? Well, Citron is not a citrus fruit that you may be familiar with as it is seldom seen in its fresh state. It is grown commercially for its peel which is packed with massive amounts of vitamin C. As a matter of fact, it appears generally like an overgrown lumpy-skinned lemon. It produces very little pulp and is grown for its peel alone. Citron contain ascorbic acid which converts to vitamin C in the body and three of the B-complex vitamins, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin, and the minerals calcium, phosphorus, iron, and also carotene.

Besides the treatment of the common cold and flu, it has been linked to traditional medicine systems for centuries and the essential oil from the peel is thought to have antibiotic properties. In India and Pakistan, the seeds from the fruit are used to expel internal parasites. In Malaysia, a decoction of the shoots of the wild trees are used for stomach problems. The fresh peel is eaten to stop bad breathe and used in cases of dysentery, while in Korean and China, the peel is used to make tea or Yujacha in order to improve digestion, cure a common cold or flu and most commonly as a natural soothing relief for a sore throat.

Anyway you ‘slice’ it, this magical fruit is a blessing for the long winter seasons. “So next time you reach for that bottle of cold medicine to give to yourself or your child, think about your options. You may just want to try a smooth cup of Korean Citron Tea. Centuries upon centuries of positive reviews with no marketing budget, attorneys of PR firms surely must say something about a product. “

Although we may be a bit bias, however, our favorite citron tea product is Yazu by General Mings. Unlike most citron tea products sold online or in the stores, Yazu uses no preservatives or additives. No GMO products and only USDA and EU organic certified fruit and sweetener (organic brown sugar). Contains no caffeine which makes it perfect for children or a soothing drink before bed.

The health benefits of Korean Citron Tea are enough to make this a staple for the long winter months, however, the great taste makes it a must!

You can purchase Yazu+ around the globe at various luxury hotels or high-end retail locations.